title: Effective rehabilitation of older people in a district rehabilitation centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the outcome of rehabilitation of older patients in a district rehabilitation centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 202 patients aged ≥ 65 years rehabilitated at a Norwegian district inpatient rehabilitation centre, referred from district hospital, nursing homes or their own homes. Diagnoses were: stroke, arthrosis, hip fracture and other chronic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Admission: according to rehabilitation potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  multidisciplinary team including an experienced general practitioner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sunnaas Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index (SI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Umea Life Satisfaction Checklist (LSC). Cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)), emotional (Symptom Check List-10) and marital status, residence, length of stay and hours/week private and home care services were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SI increased significantly during the mean 3.1 weeks stay (mean 4.2, 95% confidence interval 3.5, 4.8), p<0.001), persisting after 3 months. Eighty-four percent of patients scored satisfied according to LSC after rehabilitation. SI at discharge (adjusted for SI at admission) was predicted by MMSE and type of residence. Seventy-four percent of the patients needed home care services <3 h/week, at discharge and 3 months later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant and persisting improvements in activities of daily living may be achieved by rehabilitation of older patients with stroke, arthrosis, hip fracture and other chronic diseases in a district inpatient rehabilitation centre with co-ordinated and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice/General Practice Research Unit, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Norway. inger.johansen@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindbaek
authors.forename: Johan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Stanghelle
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brekke
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D000078329:Workforce